Interfacing third party design and manufacturing support tools

Addresses one significant element in the successful exploitation of the Alvey design to product large scale demonstrator system (DtoP). That is, a method for the high level integration of DtoP with a company´s existing design, manufacturing and in-service support software tools. It describes a prototype general purpose interface which allows a DtoP user to access a 3rd party design analysis tool without a detailed knowledge of the control or capabilities of that tool. A knowledge of both the tool, a mechanical dynamic analysis package, and of the DtoP Designer System, allows the interface to interpret data between the two very different systems intelligently and with a minimum of user intervention. A feature is that when such intervention is necessary, the interface adapts its behaviour to the level of skill and familiarity of that user. It is thus of particular value in reducing familiarisation times